Reactions to the Killing of Ismail Haniyeh; From 'Quickly Cooking Cutlet in the Middle of Tehran' to Jabs at 'Medicalian's Good Omen'

The killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps occurred due to 'impact on his body' at his residence, has attracted the attention of Iranian users on social media. Some have referred to him as a 'cutlet' similar to Qassem Soleimani, while others have deemed this event a sign of the 'collapse of the security system' of the Islamic Republic. Hossein Ronaghi, a civil and political activist, stated on Wednesday, August 1, that Haniyeh's killing 'in the heart of Tehran' is 'a sign of the inefficiency and deterioration of the Islamic Republic's security intelligence apparatus,' writing on social media platform X: 'One might say we are witnessing the collapse of the ruling security system.' He noted that the Islamic Republic operates 'professionally and expertly' in areas such as 'harassment of women, arresting plaintiffs, critics, and opponents, and the killing of protesters in the streets,' asserting that 'all these behaviors lead only to the creation of an illusion of security and a delusion of power that is evident and disgraceful to all' and indicates the 'empty claim' of 'providing security' and that 'such a regime is a big zero.' A group of users and activists have also likened Haniyeh's killing to that of Qassem Soleimani as a 'cutlet.' Amir Etemadi, a political activist, wrote regarding Haniyeh's killing: 'Training for sudden, quick, and precise cutlet cooking in the middle of Tehran.' Alieh Matlabi, a women's rights activist, wrote on social media X: 'They target Haniyeh with the highest level of security protection in the heart of Tehran. Where are those who used to respond to every criticism and protest with the justification that we have security instead? The interrogators especially emphasized that 'we have security instead.' Hossein Razagh, a civil activist and former political prisoner, also wrote: 'They fired a rocket calmly from the window of a completely secure residence in the middle of Tehran, but the Islamic Republic is here looking for ridicule and mockers of its hollow power!' Reza Behrouz, a civil activist, also stated: 'Ismail Haniyeh was cutlet in the heart of Tehran.' 'Cutlet' is a term that opponents of the Islamic Republic associate with the manner of Qassem Soleimani's killing and use phrases like 'Qassem cutlet' to refer to the former commander of the IRGC. Additionally, after the death of Ebrahim Raisi following a helicopter crash, the hashtag 'Heli-cutlet' had gone viral on social media. Masih Alinejad, a journalist and political activist, emphasized that 'most of the messages received from ordinary people inside Iran' contain 'joy over the killing of one of the Hamas leaders on Iranian soil.' She added: 'The people of Iran, who likened the killing of Qassem Soleimani to being made into a cutlet and created a lot of humorous and mocking content for it, are now celebrating the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, one of the regional allies and leaders of Hamas, in the same way.' On the other hand, images of Haniyeh's meetings and embraces with Islamic Republic officials during the swearing-in ceremony of Masoud Pezeshkian have also drawn more attention from users hours after Haniyeh's killing. Kianoush Sanjari, a journalist, posted a tweet from a pro-Islamic Republic user that showed Haniyeh embracing Masoud Pezeshkian, captioned 'The resistance front in the safe embrace of Iran.' Hours later, after the political leader of Hamas was killed in Tehran, another user advised him to 'delete it.' Moloud Hajizadeh, a journalist, also attributed Haniyeh's killing in Tehran to the 'good omen' of Pezeshkian, sarcastically writing: 'What a good omen you had, man! Your arrival was flower-strewn!' Sima Sabat, a journalist, questioned the security capabilities of the Islamic Republic, stating: 'The security force that cannot protect Ismail Haniyeh and others like him in the heart of Tehran, what can it protect?' According to her, 'the definition of security for the Islamic Republic and its agents is not power and economy but balloon power display and showing a fist to protesters and opponents through killing, torture, execution, and rape.' Ivar Farhadi, a political activist, also reminded of the Islamic Republic's failed airstrike against Israel, stating: 'When you fired 300 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones and none hit the target, Israel saw that your fist was empty, and the cutlet of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas in the heart of Tehran, is a consequence of your empty fist!' He emphasized that 'the Islamic Republic has practically no deterrent power against Israel,' adding: 'How delightful it is to see Khamenei humiliated!' Fariborz Karami Zend, a former police officer in Iran and security and defense issues expert, pointed out Haniyeh's killing in Tehran, saying: 'We must see where the account for Hassan Nasrallah, nicknamed the underground mouse, will be settled.' Sardar Pashayi, a political activist, shared a photo of Haniyeh next to Ali Khamenei, alluding to the propaganda song 'Hello Commander' made in praise of the leader of the Islamic Republic, writing: 'The commander’s companions are going one by one to destruction.' Nejat Bahrami, a journalist and political activist, also likened the Islamic Republic's security system to a 'garage,' stating: 'Hamas leaders lived in Qatar and Turkey, but not even a bee stung them, yet their big shot was killed in Tehran after the swearing-in ceremony.' According to him, 'the IRGC and the government’s intelligence agencies can only exert their power over defenseless people and unarmed teenagers in Iran. They are a bunch of useless and corrupt individuals who sell government security secrets for a bit of money.' Shahram Rafieizadeh, a journalist, also stated that 'the country’s situation has gone beyond imagination and surrealism,' writing: 'This is from the helicopter accident in the Varzaghan mountains and the completely suspicious death of Ebrahim Raisi, and this is from the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran! It is unclear whether this is the poison chalice that Khamenei drinks sip by sip or the collapse of the structures of the Zahak regime from within.' Mohammad Javad Akbarin, a journalist, also referred to Khamenei's message and his promise of 'harsh punishment' following Haniyeh's killing, recalling that the leader of the Islamic Republic 'had previously promised harsh revenge, but this punishment is as harsh as that revenge was.' He added: 'Not that he does not want to. He cannot. Why? Because a system that suffers from systematic corruption is not only corrupt in its economy and courts but also in its security and barracks.' Nasim Behrouz, a political activist, emphasized that 'the world is definitely a better place without these filthy devilish beings,' reminding of Haniyeh's indifference upon hearing the news of the killing of his sons and grandchildren. In contrast to the joy of most Iranian users on social media, some have reacted negatively to this news. Among them, Ahmad Zeidabadi, a journalist, considered Haniyeh's killing 'dishonorable and ruthless' and also 'an infinitely dangerous phenomenon,' stating: 'In a world without red lines, no level of security for human life can be assumed.' The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Wednesday morning that Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, was killed at his residence in Tehran. Following that, the Attorney General of the Islamic Republic issued a statement prohibiting media and online activists from publishing related news, which it termed 'spreading rumors.' He stated that media activists should refrain from addressing topics that, according to the Attorney General, 'disturb the psychological security' of society. This judicial body also instructed security agencies to monitor the cyberspace, media, and individuals who engage in 'spreading rumors' or 'disturbing the psychological security of society' to file cases against them and refer them to the judiciary. The Islamic Republic has always suppressed the free flow of information, public opinion, and civil, political, and media activists in similar cases and during times of tension by relying on such terms and phrases.